Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil & Gas Wells Drilled in Shale
Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have turned unproductive shales into the largest natural gas fields in the world.
Article by: Hobart M. King, Ph.D., RPG
Pumps and diesel engines ready for the frac: Photo of a hydraulic fracturing operation being conducted at a drilling pad in the Marcellus Shale gas play of southwestern Pennsylvania. An enormous assemblage of pumps, diesel engines, water trucks, sand mixers, and plumbing fixtures is in place for the frac. Image by Doug Duncan, USGS.
What is Hydraulic Fracturing?
Hydraulic fracturing is a procedure that can increase the flow of oil or gas from a well. It is done by pumping liquids down a well into subsurface rock units under pressures that are high enough to fracture the rock. The goal is to create a network of interconnected fractures that will serve as pore spaces for the movement of oil and natural gas to the well bore.
https://geology.com/articles/hydraulic-fracturing/
